Recently St Kevin’s Cardiff celebrated Mary-Anne Jennings as she wraps up her final year in education. Affectionately known as MAJ, Mary-Anne dedicated 36 years to Catholic education, a journey marked by faith, compassion and joy. Her faith in action has always been at the heart of her leadership and she showed it in every way, through her words, her actions, and the example she set for staff and students alike.
Beginning at St Kevin’s in 1992 as a teacher and returning in 2013 as Principal, MAJ was the steady hand and the warm heart. Her Catholic ethos shapes everything she does, but her humour made every day brighter, always reminded us life is to be celebrated, every single day! MAJ remained deeply connected to the classroom, serving as a teaching principal until just a few years ago. This hands-on experience shaped her practical, grounded approach to leadership and ensured she never lost sight of what truly matters, the students and learning.
She treated staff like family, sharing laughter through tech mishaps and Year 6 dance practices where enthusiasm won over choreography. Students adored her, and her gift was making learning joyful. Her relationship with students has always been something special, and she delighted in watching them learn, never missing an opportunity to cheer them on.
Her calm leadership is unwavering. Through every challenge, MAJ stayed positive and steady, ensuring that stress never spilled over to others. That gift of calm leadership is something staff will always treasure.
MAJ never backs down from a challenge and Grandma Jennings often emerged at St Kevin’s. MAJ was never afraid to sort the drama, like when she needed to work out who the Picasso was who had painted the infants’ bathrooms in glorious sienna, as always handling everything with her trademark grace and humour.
We thank Mary-Anne for the fundamental impact she’s made to St Kevin’s Cardiff, and the legacy her influence as a leader has and will have on the school community. We wish her all the best in this next chapter.
